Elementary for Watson as Truro City romp to victory (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

Truro City 5 Bashley 0

After a frustrating opening to the match, City romped to their biggest Calor League premier division win of the season to stretch their unbeaten run to four games.

Against the league’s basement club, it was a match City were expected to win after three successive draws and once man of the match Ben Watson gave them the lead just before half time, there was only always going to be one winner.

Olly Brokenshire soon made it 2-0 and after the break, Watson, Cody Cooke and a last minute Steve Tully penalty ensured a happy end to 2013 for Steve Massey’s side.

    

But until Watson ended his scoring drought, the home side had found it difficult to break down the visitors, who had taken just five points all season.

And City had to be thankful for a terrific save with his leg by keeper Grant Fisher to keep out Scott Joyce’s goalbound shot to keep them on level terms.

Perhaps weary from their exertions at Bideford on Boxing Day, City seemed to be running out of ideas when Watson pounced four minutes before the break.

It has been a lean time for the former Dorchester striker who scored twice on his debut at the start of October but has not netted since.

However, his efforts were at last rewarded when he latched onto Arran Push’s header from a Joe Broad free-kick to fire home from close range with the ball going into the net off the underside of the bar.

And three minutes later it was 2-0 when a terrible mix-up involving Bashley keeper Monty George and his defence allowed Brokenshire to plant the ball into the empty net from wide out on the left.

It was effectively game over as City dominated the second half on a pitch which held up surprisingly well after all the recent heavy rain.

Just after the hour mark Jamie Lowry played in Watson for his second which he took with minimum of fuss and a superb 25-yard free-kick by the recalled Cody Cooke made it 4-0.

And right on time, when substitute Jared Sims was brought down by Bashley keeper Monty George, it gave Steve Tully the chance to hammer home the spot kick to complete a highly satisfactory day for the home side.

City are next in action at home to Weymouth on New Year’s Day (3pm).

City: Fisher; Tully, White, Pugh, Daw; Cooke, Broad (capt) (Eddy 64), Lowry (Copp 68), Brokenshire, Afful; Watson. Subs (not used): Evans, Green.

Bashley: George; Roberts (Brookes 75), Flint, Strickland, Gazzard, Colson (Morris 68), Blackmore, Satterley, Joyce, Odam, Soetan.
Subs (not used): Marden.
Goals Watson (41) 1-0, Brokenshire (44) 2-0; Watson (64) 3-0, Cooke (75) 4-0, Tully (90 pen) 5-0.
Referee: Marc Whaley (Plymouth).

Crowd: 401.
Man of the match: Ben Watson (Truro City).